Life after a coronary artery bypass graft : the lived experience of Maltese men

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiac surgery is frequently described as a "multidimensional phenomenon"; spanning over the biological, psychological and social fields. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is well known to encompass extensive stress and emotions on the patient. There is however, a paucity of psychosocial literature on the Maltese patient's experiences of this procedure. This study therefore aimed to explore the lived experience of undergoing CABG in Maltese men. Methods: A qualitative approach, namely Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used and audio recorded semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with Maltese men who had undergone CABG. [Excerpt]